Automatic rain-water cut-off.



No. 662,933. Patented Dec. 4, I900.

J. HAERING.

AUTOMATIC RAIN WATER GUT-OFF.

(Application filed Sept. 27, 1900.

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JOSEPH HAERING, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMATIC RAIN-WATER CUT-OFF.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 662,933, dated December 4, 190 0 Applioation filed September 27, 1900- Serial No. 31,315. (No model.)

T0 at whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, J OSEPH HAERING, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of Jefferson and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Automatic Rain-Water Out-Off, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to cut-offs in general, and more particularly to that class used in connection with cisterns, the object of the invention being to provide a construction wherein the first water that comes from the downspout will waste to asewer until the impurities are washed from the roof, after which the flow of water will be directed to the cistern,

the cut-off acting to again communicate the down-spout with the sewer when the Water has ceased to flow.

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in bot-h views, Figure 1 is a vertical section taken through the cut-off mechanism and showing the meohanism in position to communicate with a sewer or other waste. Fig. 2 is a section on line 2 2 of Fig. 1 and showing the parts in the same positions as in Fig. l.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention comprises a preferably rectangular casing 5, having a vertical partition 6 in its lower portion and reaching from the bottom of the casing through a distance of somewhat more than one-half of the height of the easing, although the height of this partition may be varied as desired. The partition 6 results in the formation of two compartments 7 and 8, which are in communication at their upper ends and from the lower ends of which lead collars 9 and 10, adapted for connection of pipes leading to a sewer and a cistern, respectively, the former being known as the waste-opening and the latter as thecistern-opening.

In the upper end of the casing 5 is a feedopening 11, having a surrounding flange or collar 12,adapted for engagement of the downspout from a roof, and this opening 11 is directly over the partition 6.

Hinged at the upper edge of the partition 6 is a valve 13, which is adapted for movement to cause its upper edge to lie alternately at opposite sides of the opening 11, thus to direct the fiow of water through said opening into either of the compartments 7 or 8. The valve 13is fixed to a shaft 14:, which is mounted in bearings in the sides of the casing 5, and fixed thereto and extending at right angles is a rocker 15, having hooks l6 and 17 at its op posite ends. The hook 17 lies within the compartment8 and has a weight 18 engaged therewith, the action of this weight being to hold the valve normally in the position shown to communicate the opening 11 with the wasteopening through the compartment 7, whereby the first water that passes through the downspout after a rain may waste away and thus carry the dirt from the roof with it.

In order to reverse the valve 13 at the proper time, a bucket 19 is provided, this bucket having its top closed by a cover 20, having a flange 21 for engagement with the bucket to hold it in place and a second and upwardly-directed flange 22, forming a wall which incloses a cup 23. The cup 23 has a foraminous covering, and in the top of the cover 20 is formed an opening 2a, through which water -may enter the bucket from the cup. As the water passes down through compartment 7 itenters the cup and then runs into the bucket, and when the proper amount of water has thus run into the bucket the Weight of such water acts to overbalance the weight 18 and turn the valve to the opposite position to direct the flow of water through compartment 8 and into the cistern-pipe. An opening 24' is formed in the bottom of the bucket, and through this opening is passed a rod 25, which lies in the opening 2- the rod being fixed so that as the bucket rises and falls the rod will have movement through the perforations and will act to keep them clear of obstructions.

After the bucket has been filled to the proper extent and has turned the valve, and in fact during the filling operation, there is a steady leakage through the opening, the object of which is to permit the weight 18 to return the valve to its original position when the flow of water has stopped. To compensate for leakage, however, while water is passing through compartment 8, and thus to maintain the valve in proper position, openings 26 are formed in the valve, through which water may pass to a spout 27 and thence to the cup at the top of the bucket, this water being in sufficient quantity to compensate for leakage. This spout, which is in the form of a chute, also helps to direct the water initially to the cup at the top of the bucket. When the flow of water ceases, the water runs entirely from the bucket and the weight '18 returns the valve to its proper position, the outflow of water being permitted by an airinlet opening 30, formed through the cover and side of the bucket.

With this construction it will be seen that the first Water that enters the apparatus will be conducted to the waste-pipe, after which the flow will be turned to the cistern, and that when the flow of water has ceased the Valve will rearrange itself to direct the next flow initially to the waste.

It will be understood that in practice various modifications of the specific construction shown may be made and that any suitable materials and proportions may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Upon reference to the drawings it will be noted that one side of the casing has an opening 31, provided with a sliding cover 32 to give access to the apparatus when desired, and also that cleats 33 and 34, secured to the inner faces of the sides of the casing, form rests for the valve When at the different limits ofits movement. Also the bucket is provided with a foraminous covering for the cup there.- of to exclude sticks and other large bodies from the cup. It will be understood, furthermore, that when the cistern has been filled the cover 32 may be raised and the bucket removed. The cisterns are usually filled during the winter months and no .Water is permitted to enter during the summer months, and with this construction the water during the summer may be all turned to the waste side of the apparatus.

-What is claimed is 1. A device of the class described comprising a casing having a central partition forming two compartments, a waste-pipe leading from one compartment, a cistern-pipe leading from the second compartment,a feed-opening above the partition a valve pivoted with its lower edge at the upper edge of the partition and adapted for movement to cause its upper edge to lie ultimately on opposite sides of the feed-opening, a rocker fixed to the valve and projecting at opposite sides thereof, a weight at one end of the rocker adapted to hold the valve normally in a predetermined position, a bucket attached to the opposite end of the rocker and adapted to receive water from the feed-pipe to move the valve against the tendency of the weight, said valve having openings therein, and a spout disposed to receive water through the openings and discharge to the bucket.

2. A device of the class described comprising a casing having-separate water-passages, a feed-opening, a pivoted valve adapted for movement to communicate the feed-opening with the passages alternately, a rocker fixed to the valve, a weight at one end of the rocker to hold the valve to direct water to the passage at the opposite side from the Weight, a bucket at the opposite end of the rocker, said bucket having alining openings in its top and bottom for entrance and discharge of water, and a fixed rod passed through the openings for movement therein as the bucket is reciprocated, to clear the openings.

3. A device of the class described comprising a casing having separate water-passages, a feed-opening, an outlet-opening for each passage, a pivoted valve adapted for movement to communicate the feed-opening with the passages alternately, a weight attached to the valve at one side thereof and adapted to hold the valve to direct water from the feed-opening to thepassage at the opposite side of the valve from the weight, a bucket connected at the opposite side of the valve from the Weight, a spout on the valve and having its discharge end disposed over the bucket, openings in the valve leading to the spout,alining perforations in the top and bottom of the bucket, and a rod passed through the perforations for movement therein as the bucket is raised and lowered, said rod fitting the perforations loosely and adapted to clear them of obstructions.

- In testimony that I'claim the foregoing as my own I have-hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES H. PEOPLES, ANDREW GERNLEIN. 

